Between his last appearance on a debate stage and today, Rick Perry's path to the Republican nomination has gotten narrower. That's the conventional wisdom after news broke that he wasn't paying staffers, then that he was, and then that he was met in Iowa with lackluster support.

So, when CNN announced Thursday that he was again going to be center-stage during next week's undercard debate stage, it arguably mattered less than it did the first time. Perry will be joined at the earlier debate by Bobby Jindal, Rick Santorum, Lindsey Graham and George Pataki.

His limping campaign, which needed to be gaffe-free this time, has been anything but, and his argument as to why he's the best candidate for the party hasn't broken through at all. He has some volunteer support and campaign advisers, sure. He has a few dollars in his coffers and so does the super PAC supporting him, Opportunity and Freedom PAC. Other than that, what's left?

Not to be forgotten, the super PAC sent out a Friday morning email reminding supporters that they are "in it for the long haul" and "back on the air in Iowa."

"Last week, we launched our grassroots campaign in Iowa," the email said. "This week, we are back on the air reminding Iowans that Governor Perry is our best defense against Washington's job killing taxes, rules, and regulations. He knows how to cut Washington down to size and implement policies that will get America back on track."

The rest of the message was what we've come to expect from Perry on the stump, a focus on his jobs record and military service, both messages which have done virtually nothing to get him beyond 1% in most polls.

It seems increasingly true that Perry doesn't have to get out of the race anytime soon, not as long as there's an undercard debate somewhere. He probably doesn't want to either. No politician who is so adept at the grip-and-grin of presidential politics needs to if some money and support is there, especially one who doesn't have a day job anymore.